Lock for a trust reverser

Abstract

A lock for a thrust reverser comprising a retainer member carried by a pivot pin, the pivot pin being angularly moveable between a first position in which the retainer member retains a part of the thrust reverser and a second position in which the said part of the thrust reverser is not retained by the retainer member. The lock further comprises a lock arrangement for retaining the pivot pin in its first position, the lock arrangement comprising a lock member axially moveable between a locked position, in which it cooperates with the pivot pin to prevent movement of the pivot pin from its first position to its second position, and a retracted position, an arrangement for restricting angular movement of the lock member, and a solenoid actuator arranged to control movement of the lock member.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A lock for a thrust reverser comprising a retainer member carried by a pivot pin, the pivot pin being angularly moveable between a first, locked position in which the retainer member retains a part of the thrust reverser and a second, unlocked position in which the said part of the thrust reverser is not retained by the retainer member, and a lock arrangement for retaining the pivot pin in its first, locked position, the lock arrangement comprising a lock member axially moveable between a locked position and a retracted position and cooperable with the pivot pin such that, when the lock member is in its locked position, movement of the pivot pin from its first position to its second position is prevented and, when the lock member is in its retracted position, the pivot pin is free to move, an arrangement for restricting angular movement of the lock member, and a solenoid actuator arranged to control movement of the lock member, wherein the pivot pin has an axis of angular movement about which the pivot pin moves angularly and whereby, in the event that a fault occurs in the thrust reverser system, the retainer member is moveable relative to the pivot pin in a direction perpendicular to the axis of angular movement of the pivot pin. 
     
     
       2. The lock as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the lock member is spring biased towards its locked position, the solenoid actuator being actuable to move the lock member to its retracted position. 
     
     
       3. The lock as claimed in claim  2 , whereby energization of the solenoid actuator moves the lock member away from the pivot pin to permit movement of the pivot pin to its second position. 
     
     
       4. The lock as claimed in claim  1 , further comprising a spring for biasing the retainer member towards an inner radial position relative to said pivot pin. 
     
     
       5. The lock as claimed in claim  4 , wherein the retainer member is engageable with a stop member which serves to hold the retainer member against further movement should movement of the thrust reverser towards its deployed position commence prior to the lock member moving to its retracted position. 
     
     
       6. The lock as claimed in claim  1 , wherein the retainer member retains a locking pin forming part of the thrust reverser. 
     
     
       7. The lock as claimed in claim  1 , further comprising a housing for the lock member wherein the lock member is provided with formations which are cooperable with corresponding formations provided on the pivot pin so as to restrict angular movement of the lock member relative to the lock housing. 
     
     
       8. The lock as claimed in claim  7 , wherein the formations provided on the lock member and the corresponding formations provided on the pivot pin take the form of a ratchet arrangement arranged such that a movement of the pivot pin, in the direction in which the retainer member moves to the position of retaining a locking pin, is permitted regardless of whether the solenoid actuator is actuated. 
     
     
       9. The lock as claimed in claim  1 , further comprising a sensor for monitoring the position of the retainer member. 
     
     
       10. The lock as claimed in claim  1 , further comprising a sensor for monitoring the position of the lock member. 
     
     
       11. The lock as claimed in claim  9 , wherein the or each sensor is arranged to provide an output signal indicative of the presence of a fault condition. 
     
     
       12. The lock as claimed in claim  10 , wherein the or each sensor is arranged to provide an output signal indicative of the presence of a fault condition. 
     
     
       13. A lock for a thrust reverser comprising a retainer member carried by a pivot pin, the pivot pin being angularly moveable between a first, locked position in which the retainer member retains a part of the thrust reverser and a second, unlocked position in which the said part of the thrust reverser is not retained by the retainer member, and a lock arrangement for retaining the pivot pin in its first, locked position, the lock arrangement comprising a lock member axially moveable between a locked position and a retracted position and cooperable with the pivot pin such that, when the lock member is in its locked position, movement of the pivot pin from its first position to its second position is prevented and, when the lock member is in its retracted position, the pivot pin is free to move, an arrangement for restricting angular movement of the lock member, and a solenoid actuator arranged to control movement of the lock member, wherein the pivot pin has an axis of angular movement system, the retainer member being moveable in a radial direction relative to said axis, the lock further comprising a spring for biasing the retainer member towards an inner radial position relative the pivot pin. 
     
     
       14. The lock as claimed in claim  13 , wherein the retainer member is engageable with a stop member which serves to hold the retainer member against further movement should movement of the thrust reverser towards its deployed position commence prior to the lock member moving to its retracted position. 
     
     
       15. The lock as claimed in claim  13 , wherein the retainer member retains a locking pin forming part of the thrust reverser. 
     
     
       16. The lock as claimed in claim  13 , further comprising a housing for the lock member wherein the lock member is provided with formations which are cooperable with corresponding formations provided on the pivot pin so as to restrict angular movement of the lock member relative to the lock housing.